Life-Lke train sets.

[Anonymous]

Careful about your curve radius.
Larger diesels and longer passenger cars may require 22" or 24" radius versus the norm 18"
2 axle diesel trucks run fine on 18" as well as the 40' & 50' freight cars.
Ask the forum before you commit dollars.

[GerFust]

Here is another perspective on that. I agree with the quality assessments other authors have made here about the quality of "sets." May I assume that you are just starting out in the hobby and trying to cut costs while trying things out? Rather than invest hundreds or thousands of dollars (even for a 4x8) for an experiment with a new hobby, you have two options.

First you could invest in one loco and a few pieces of rolling stock to get started and grow gradually.

Second, go with the train set and plan on replacing it later (sell it at a garage sale).

I would focus my energy and cash on a well laid out track plan, good industries and scenery, and smooth controls. I think in this way you more quickly get to the fun of the hobby. Upgrading rolling stock and locomotives is easily done later. By the way, I'm using some of the inferior brands and sets on my layout, and some pieces are over 20 years old!

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your help I think that it will help me and I will enjoy this hobby. I plan on having HO style trains and them being desiel. I have a 4x8 area to work with

Thanks
Joebob

[dknelson]

Lifelike is an interesting firm. When I started out they made track cleaner and elementary scenery stuff -- mostly for the toy train set. Then they started making pretty cheap low quality trains. Recently they, like Bachmann (which us old timers remember as "Plasticville") have radically upgraded their top lines. But they continue to put out the cheap lines too which means you have to be somewhat savvy.
I have seen Lifelike sets that use their Proto 1000 F unit which is good but if the cars are their usual trainset quality, not the happiest things for beginners. Oddly enough once you have some experience under your belt you can do some stuff with those train set cars some of which are actually interesting models.
I think the Walthers line of train sets looks pretty reliable. Of course here in Milwaukee we can buy them cheaply on the "damaged packaging" shelf at their outlet store.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

As you have been advised above, STAY AWAY from Life-Like and Model Power train sets. Also, avoid the "Supermarket" train sets usually sold before Christmas, and always available at train show sale tables. Very low quality.
The makes recommended to you in previous posts in this thread are good.
Good luck and regards / Mike

[Anonymous]

In this hobby, whether N or HO, there are the Chevies, Fords, Chryslers, Lincolns and the Caddy.

For the Modeler, trains sets generally don't even qualify.
I have three Lifelike diesels that would normally be part of a train set but use them as retired diesels and show as comparisons to the Chevies, Fords etc.
There are 15+ loco manufacturers like the Chevies,
Fords etc so in a nut shell, it's what's under the
shell that counts.
Come on back and tell us your immediate term plans/objective.
Scale, layout size, steam, diesel, freight,
passenger and then we all can do a super job in highballing you down the track.

[Anonymous]

Joebob,
Yeah, I would definitely stay away from the Life-Like train sets. Like they say, you get what you pay for. For me, I feel it's a lot more enjoyable to have a few high quality expensive locomotives & rolling stock running on tried and true track, than to have a big empire of flipppy floppy toy junk that looks like a model train and runs like a broken toaster.
I have a few Kato & Atlas locomotives, Microtrains & Atlas rolling stock, and run them on Atlas track where they all run smooth and very realiably all the time. I don't want to trash Life-Like, they do make pretty good engines in their Proto 2000 series in HO scale. But their train sets are probably not going to last you a long time and will probably frustrate you into leaving the hobby quickly.
Another thing, having the best locomotives & rolling stock will make it very easy for you to sell or trade in the future if you change your railroad plans. You owe it to yourself to get the best stuff, it's a lot more enjoyable!
Have fun, Pete

[Anonymous]

Joe, they are fine for setting up around the christmas tree for the kids to play with, but if you want to get into serious modeling, I would suggest starting with Athearn, they have pretty good detail and run very well. When it comes to track, stay away from brass track! Nothing but problems there. Atlas "nickel-silver" flex-track and switches are your best bet. I am assuming that you have read "ModelRailroader" magazine, in order to find this web site. That magazine should help you get an idea of what kind of layout you want to try to construct. Also, see if there are any model railroad clubs in your area. If you are just getting started, this kind of support can be priceless.
Good luck, Joe, and remember, "Model railroading is FUN".
Todd C.

[Anonymous]

Joebob, I think you will get a far better quality locomotive and rolling stock (cars) if you buy individual units and not a set.

IMHO, you should choose from the following locomotives (in decreasing order of quality and cost):

Atlas Master series - the cream of the crop in terms of detail and motor/drive quality. But not cheap!

Kato or Athearn Genesis (tied for second)

Life-Like Proto 2000 (P2K) - MUCH higher quality than the standard "Life-like", but slightly less than the three above. A very close third place.

Stewart, Atlas Classic - fourth place tie: not as much detail, but very smooth runners!

Athearn locos, P1K locos (tie) - very good locos for the price, less detail and not as good a motor/drive as the above.

Walthers locos - quality varies, so ask someone who has the model you want about the quality.

Bachmann - some of the steamers are good, most of the diesels are inferior.

Regular Life-like - good for children only

Model Power - avoid.

In terms of rolling stock, the top of the line is the Kadee cars, followed by Atlas, P2K, and Athearn Genesis. These all have great detail and run well.

You can't go too far wrong with the standard "blue box" Athearn kits - good value for the money, but usually less detail and less authenic markings than the above (some will surprise you on this last point, however).

I am less impressed with Accurail (some of which are very inaccurate as to markings and style) and with Roundhouse (ditto). I have a Branchline car, but haven't put it together yet, so can only say that it LOOKS very good!

Avoid regular Life-like (unless buying for kids) and Model Power.

For track, get Atlas or Poco. If you want a snap together track, Bachmann E-Z is good, but expensive!

For a power supply, try a MRC Tech 4 series.
Or the new Digitax Zephyr for a DCC unit.

That's my 3 cents worth of suggestions.

Again, I think you will get a better MRR "set"if you buy from the individual makers I've suggested instead of buying a pre-packaged "set". I myself bought an Athearn set to begin with - but although it had better components than a Life-like set, I still feel that I could have put the money to better use by buying individually.

Which I now have done!

Good luck!

= George

[Anonymous]

I am a begginer at model trains and was wondering if the brand Life-Like are good train sets.

Thanks
Joebob